ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Illinois lawmakers pass a bill that would require newly built single-family and small multi-family homes to be equipped to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure. (Chicago Tribune)
POLITICS: The data analyst who served as jury foreman in the “ComEd Four” trial discusses learning about the ways former House Speaker Michael Madigan wielded his power while in office. (WBEZ)
PIPELINES: Federal pipeline regulators announce new rules meant to reduce methane leaks from natural gas pipelines and other facilities. (E&E News)
CARBON CAPTURE: • Judges in North Dakota and Iowa have issued conflicting rulings on whether carbon pipeline companies can access private land for surveys, though an attorney says the rulings do not apply across states. (Iowa Capital Dispatch) • Some longtime ethanol industry supporters in the Great Plains resent companies’ recent efforts to partner with carbon pipeline developers on using eminent domain to build projects. (South Dakota Searchlight)
WIND: Some residents and lawmakers are still upset about a South Dakota law change seven years ago that distributes wind energy tax revenue across the state. (Mitchell Republic)
EFFICIENCY: University of Michigan researchers develop software that reduces the energy consumption of artificial intelligence training. (Michigan Daily)
NUCLEAR: A bill to lift Illinois’ 30-year moratorium on new nuclear energy construction divides environmental groups. (Daily Herald)
RENEWABLES:
• Onsite geothermal and solar generation is helping a Missouri school district save more than $100,000 a year in annual energy costs. (KCUR)
• Amazon has emerged as the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in the world, though building new projects will confront challenges with interconnecting to the grid. (CNBC)
UTILITIES: Executives with Kansas City-based Evergy announce a strong financial performance as the utility seeks regulatory approval to raise rates. (Capital-Journal)
OIL & GAS: A Minnesota agency sues the owner of a gas station that leaked 10,000 gallons of gasoline over several months last year. (Forum News Service)
SOLAR: A Nebraska community breaks ground on a 1 MW solar project that local officials say will help stabilize electricity costs for residents. (News Channel Nebraska)
BIOGAS: Grand Rapids, Michigan, begins powering its transit agency’s fleet of buses with renewable natural gas produced from a nearby biodigester facility. (WOOD-TV8)
COMMENTARY: • A recent congressional hearing in Minnesota provided a one-sided view in support of a proposed copper-nickel mine in the state’s Boundary Waters area, an editorial board writes. (Star Tribune) • An Illinois editorial board says state lawmakers need to pass public health and environmental safeguards before allowing carbon capture and storage projects. (Chicago Sun-Times)
